Man Jailed for Sex Assault on Teen Girl in East Sussex
A man has been locked up for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in East Sussex. William Hobden, 29, targeted the underage victim in August 2020, a court has heard.
Guilty Verdict After Trial at Lewes Crown Court
Hobden, a former road worker from Queens Road, East Grinstead, faced two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 16 and two counts of sexual activity offences under Section 27 of the Sexual Offences Act. He denied all charges but was found guilty in February following the trial at Lewes Crown Court.
DNA evidence directly linked Hobden to the crime. On May 5th, he was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Threats After Assault, Victim Supported by Expert Officers
After the assault, Hobden sent threatening messages to the victim’s phone. Specially trained officers stepped in to support the brave teenage girl throughout the ordeal.
Restraining Orders in Place, Police Praise Victim’s Courage
Alongside his prison sentence, Hobden faces a restraining order and Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his contact with children upon release.
“We are pleased that we have been able to get justice for the victim in this case,” said Detective Sergeant Ellen Jones. “Hobden betrayed her trust and carried out this appalling abuse. But his victim showed courage to report her experience to the police.”
For info on how 1 investigate sexual offences, visit their website. Support for victims is also available online.
